by Pastor John Kim

Jeremiah Burroughs provides a helpful definition of contentment in his classic work The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment:

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.

If there is one character quality that really stands out in someone’s life, it would be this quality of contentment. While it is not something that seems flashy and glamorous compared to other qualities, there is something about contentment that really sets apart those who have it as ones who shine the light of Christ compared to those who don’t.

I suppose all of us would have to admit that it’s easy to murmur, complain, or grumble about our circumstances, whether those manifest as struggles with difficult people or being subjected to tests or trials that range anywhere from inconvenience to trauma. When we face those various trials that James 1:2 talks about, we are called to consider it joy knowing that God’s purposes in shaping our character are at work. But do we just grin and bear it? Or are we actually able to experience joy in the midst of trials?

When we are called to bear a cross or to suffer in some way, it is hard to imagine that we can respond with joy and not let it affect us. So how can we experience joy?

It would be hard to summarize all of Jeremiah Burroughs’ book in one article so I’ll have to encourage you to read it. But if there are two thoughts that have come out of studying the theme of contentment, it would be these:

1. A Murmuring Spirit Is An Evil Thing.

To have a grumbling, complaining heart is not something to be treated lightly. In fact, if you look at the nation of Israel when God delivered them from Egypt and was taking them to the Promised Land, the one thing that stood out was that they continually grumbled. Whether it was about the pursuit of the Egyptians, the lack of food, the kind of food, the lack of water, or disagreement with the leadership of Moses, there was a constant grumbling that took place. What is pretty serious to note is that God was not pleased and actually judged the people for their complaining. 1 Corinthians 10 highlights this in a way that we should carefully consider and take to heart:

“Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness.

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.” Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:5–11)

Note that the penalty for grumbling was destruction. Not a warning, not a time out, not a “please stop” for the hundredth time. This should be a sobering thought to all of us. Verse 5 says that “with most of them, God was not well-pleased” and twice in the next several verses we are warned to consider their example so that we would not do the same.

A grumbling heart manifests a discontentment that ultimately shakes its fist at God because there is a dissatisfaction with His wise and fatherly disposal in all things. Our view of God is revealed to not be so high, so exalted, so sovereign. Instead, our complaining hearts reveal that until we get things our way, when we want it, how we want it, and in what color and size we want it, we are not freely submitting to and delighting in God’s course that He has laid out for us.

2. True Contentment Only Comes in Christ Alone

A temporary and superficial contentment can be experienced to some degree, but a lasting and deep contentment that perseveres–particularly in the midst of suffering–can only come when Jesus is truly seen as all we need.

In a famous passage that is often used in ways that are not justified by the context, there is one thing that is very clear: contentment is only possible through the strength that Christ provides.

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:10–13)

Paul knew how to get along with humble means, and during times of prosperity. That was because those things did not define him. His greatest point of identification was in Christ because what he valued more than anything was knowing Christ.

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7–11)

Christian contentment is only possible because Christ is seen as our greatest gain, to the point where we would count all other things as loss. This is obviously easier said than done when it comes to daily life. So we must cultivate and nurture a love for Christ, and grow in appreciation for the love of Christ in order to become more and more content despite whatever circumstances might surround us at any given time.

As we consider the daily pull of the things in life that seem to highlight what we don’t have, let us consider what we already have in Christ. Then we can have a heart of contentment that will also reveal itself through a life of thanksgiving, rejoicing, hope. After all, Christians are more focused on the future than the present: on the promises that we look forward to being fulfilled.

When we genuinely look to our Savior as the Author and perfecter of our faith, we can lay aside every encumbrance and the entangling sins that trip us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, because Jesus has set the way for us to follow and has promised the strength to pursue it.